Conquest Mo Money remains unbeaten in Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park

By Sarah Mace

New York-bred sophomore Conquest Mo Money (Uncle Mo) drove his record to a perfect three-for-three Sunday evening when he won the 1 1/16-mile, $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park, his home base. Winning owner Tom McKenna of Judge Lanier Racing has circled the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 26 as the next start for his talented colt.

Conquest Mo Money, reunited with regular rider Jorge Carreno and sent off as the second betting choice at odds of 6-5 in the Mine That Bird, was up with the vanguard of the eight-horse field after the break. Longshot Conquest Crown Me assumed the lead and rail position as the field rounded the clubhouse turn and Conquest Mo Money pressed the pace at his flank.

After dogging Conquest Crown Me through early splits of 22.78 and 46.33, Conquest Mo Money took over with a half-mile to go, and cut the corner neatly into upper stretch.

Odds-on favorite Irap, who saved ground through the first turn and enjoyed a comfortable trip along the backstretch, launched a bid in upper stretch, but Conquest Mo Money turned back his rival under a vigorous ride. The bay colt edged clear and scored his third straight victory by two lengths. After clocking six furlongs in 1:11.33, he stopped the clock at 1:43.42 after 1 1/16 miles. Oh So Regal, also campaigned by Judge Lanier, finished another two lengths back in third.

Owner Tom McKenna said, “Yes, I like what a saw today. [Jockey] Jorge [Carreno] rode him perfectly. He put him in the right spot at the right time. We prevailed. We have a good horse and he stayed with it.”

McKenna also said, “The Sunland Derby is next.” The 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby Champion Series race is scheduled for March 26 and awards 50, 20, 10, and 5 points toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby to the first- through fourth-place finishers, respectively.

Conquest Mo Money won his first two career starts for trainer Miguel Hernandez at a mile before stretching out an extra half-panel in the Mine That Bird. The determined colt took his unveiling January 6 by a neck, then romped by eleven lengths in the Riley Allison Stakes three weeks later. He has earned $132,900.

Bred by Twin Creeks Farm, Conquest Mo Money is one of five winners out of Stirring, an unraced Kentucky-bred mare by Seeking the Gold purchased in foal by Twin Creeks at the 2013 Keeneland November sale for $80,000. Stirring is a half-sister to Canadian champion older mare Serenading (A.P. Indy) and out of Daijin, a full sister to Touch Gold and a half sister to With Approval. Canadian Horse of the Year.  She has a juvenile filly by Mission Impazible and was bred back to the same stallion in 2016.

In the sales, Conquest Mo Money went first to Conquest Stables at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale for $180,000. Judge Lanier Racing picked him up for the bargain price of $8,500 as part of the complete dispersal of Conquest Stables at the 2016 Keeneland November sale.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/02/27/conquest-mo-moneymine-that-bird/

---

Caledonian gutsy winner of open Jimmy Winkfield

By Sarah Mace

Curragh Stables’ Caledonian is developing a flair for the dramatic holiday statement. Winner of the Lost In the Fog Stakes in deep stretch by a determined neck at Aqueduct on New Year’s Day, the grey son of Concord Point rallied from last and split horses in the stretch to win the 6-furlong, $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield for 3-year-olds on Monday’s special President’s Day card at the Big A.

After the break, the compact but salty field of five engaged in an all-out scramble for the lead. Caledonian, a closer and the longshot of the field at 10-1, brought up the rear, four lengths behind pacesetter and 4-5 favorite Bavaro, who led fellow speedster Shoe Loves Shoe by a length on the backstretch through a first quarter in 22.90.

As the field approached the far turn, Caledonian advanced into fourth at the rail and saved ground through the turn before angling out for the drive.

Bavaro yielded to Shoe Loves Shoe, Caledonian moved up with 3-2 Sal the Turtle to his outside to the outside of “Shoe,” and threaded his way through the narrow gap between them with a furlong to go.

In the final stages Even Thunder launched a menacing bid on the far outside, but Caledonian dug in gamely to save the victory by a nose. Sal the Turtle finshed third, 1 1/2 lengths back. The two speeds, Shoe Loves Shoe and Bavaro, completed the order of finish. After a half in 46.80, the final time for the race was 1:12.19.  [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“We missed a couple of breezes with him coming in, so we thought he might be a little bit short for this,” said winning trainer John Terranova, “but he had such a great breeze the other day working against a really nice horse of ours we have in the barn, and did it well so we felt very confident coming in. We thought he was going to run a big race, we just weren’t sure if he was fine-tuned enough to get it done, but he’s just been a honest horse…tough, gutsy and tries hard.”

Terranova also felt that the race developed according to plan. “We got the pace setup we wanted. I told Eric [Cancel] to just sit back and wait for it and hopefully they’ll set a good pace up front and we’ll close into it. He gets up. He worked hard for it and kept on fighting.”

Cancel, aboard for four out of Caledonian’s five career starts, said, “I knew there were better horses out there this time compared to [the Lost In the Fog]. I had to really get after him. Last time, I let him get comfortable. I knew today I needed to get after him earlier.”

Also, the finish was so close, Cancel was unsure about the outcome: “I thought I got beat because by the angle I had. [Even Thunder] looked in front. But thankfully we ended up with a victory.”

Bred by Kaleem Shah Inc. and foaled at Berkshire Stud[4] in Pine Plains, Caledonian broke his maiden for a $50,000 tag second out on September 21. He has won two of three subsequent starts, both stakes races, and finished second by only a neck in a starter allowance, bankrolling a total of $156,565.

Caledonian is the first foal out of Dazzling Display, a Kentucky-bred winner by Dehere, purchased by Bob Baffert for Shah, at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton February juvenile sale for $250,000.

Dazzling Display has produced two full siblings to Caledonian: an unnamed 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt called Kaluga Bob. She was bred in 2016 to Self Control.

 

 

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/02/20/caledonian-winkfield/

---

Wilburnmoney springs 20-1 upset in Franklin Square

by Sarah Mace

At longshot odds of 20-1, catchily-named Wilburnmoney (Wilburn) delivered a strong gate-to-wire performance Sunday to upset a robust 10-horse field in the third running of the $100,000 Franklin Square sprint stakes for New York-bred sophomore fillies at Aqueduct.

Drawn in the outside post, Wilburnmoney broke on top under Angel Arroyo, then settled in fourth, a couple lengths off the pace set by Bluegrass Flag (7-2), who moved aggressively from post two and established a one-length lead over favorite Maple Mo through an opening quarter in 22.67.

Cruising down the backstretch five wide, Wilburnmoney worked her way closer to the fence through the turn, and swept into contention three-wide deep after a half mile in 46.46.

Wilburnmoney took over the lead in upper stretch and even though Bluegrass Flag battled back gamely at the rail, Wilburnmoney was just too good and ultimately drew off to record her first stakes victory by two lengths in a final time of 1:11.88.

Nearly six lengths back Luna Rising won the photo for show, nosing out Overnegotiate in fourth. Completing the order of finish were Toni Tools, Maple Mo, Bertranda, Passporttovictory, Out of Trouble and Treatherlikestar. Wilburnmoney paid $42.80 for a $2 win bet. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

Jockey Angel Arroyo reported, “She broke great. I got the best trip. In the final stretch at the eighth-pole l knew I had horse and she rallied all the way to the finish. This filly today ran really good. She wanted to run today and it was really easy.”

Gary Gullo, who conditions Wilburnmoney for Bob Peterson’s Stables, LLC and Frank Bellavia, said he told Arroyo “to get her on the bit a little bit early on and just use your own judgment.”

Wilburnmoney won her Belmont unveiling last June 16 by two lengths, following up the maiden score a month later with a runner-up finish behind runaway winner Miss Freeze in the Lynbrook Stakes. Following a pair of off the board finishes in stakes company in August and November, she came back after a brief freshening to run a solid third in first-level state-bred allowance in her inner track debut on January 15.

“I thought she ran great,” commented Gullo after the Franklin Square. “She was coming into the race very good. She’s had a few issues with heat and the second time and third time she ran, it was very hot out and she didn’t run that well but today she ran good. I’ve always liked this filly.”

Bred by Clark Brewster and foaled at Questroyal Stud[3] in Stillwater, Wilburnmoney is the second foal, and second winner of two to start, out of Lady in the Money, a six-figure-earning Virginia-bred purchase by Brewster for $32,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale.

Wilburnmoney changed hands twice via public auction, selling as a weanling at the Fasig-Tipton New York Fall mixed sale for $26,000 to Palermo Farm, then going to Anthony Melfi for $70,000 at the New York-bred preferred yearling sale in Saratoga in 2015.

Lady in the Money has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Boys At Tosconova, a yearling colt by Courageous Cat and was bred in 2016 to Magna Graduate.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/02/19/wilburnmoney-franklin-square/

---

Hot City Girl best in Broadway

By Sarah Mace

For Lady Sheila Stable’s Hot City Girl, the third time – third time off the layoff, that is – was the charm. Returning to action following four months on the bench with back-to-back stakes placings in November and December, on Saturday the 5-year-old half sister to sprint champion La Verdad scored a victory in Aqueduct’s featured $100,000 Broadway Stakes for older New York-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs as the odds-on favorite.

The victory leaves owner Sheila Rosenblum with an attractive quandary, as to whether to send her mare to the breeding shed fresh off a win, or keep her in competition in sharp form.

Hot City Girl came out swinging under jockey Manny Franco, latching on to pacesetter Court Dancer’s flank to prompt the pace through hot splits of 22.55 for the opening quarter mile and 45.25 for the half.

The top pair remained separated by three-quarters of a length along the backstretch and around the turn, until Hot City Girl came under the whip at the head of the stretch, and took over as they approached the furlong marker.

After opening up daylight, Hot City Girl began to look a little leg-weary nearing the wire, but had enough left in the tank to hold off a bevy of closers and register a 1 1/4-length win in a final time of 1:11.56 over the fast Aqueduct inner track.

Jet Majesty, last of eight for the first half-mile, closed with energy to grab second money at odds of 23-1, while She’s All Ready kicked home third a length back, a neck ahead of Splendid Gold in fourth, who got a head in front of Roman Ceres in fifth. Play Me a Memory, Court Dancer and Flatterywillgetyou completed the order of finish. (VIDEO REPLAY[3])

“Before the race, [trainer] Linda [Rice] told me Court Dancer had a lot of speed,” said jockey Manny Franco, following his successful maiden voyage astride Hot City Girl.

“I just tried to measure her as much as I could. She broke strong, but I was able to stay with the plan [and] sit just off of Court Dancer. I had the favorite horse in the race, and thankfully she got a good trip and we did it. She had a long stride heading towards the finish. She ran good.”

Owner Sheila Rosenblum of Lady Sheila Stable, who also campaigned La Verdad, communicated some thoughts about future plans for the mare. “We’re not sure [if she’ll continue racing or retire]. We want to hear about her Beyer Figure. It’s a good option to have: breeding shed or racing, which one will it be? Being that she’s mine, I can make that decision quietly, not tonight. But if she didn’t race well, we knew the answer.”

Concluded Rosenblum, “This was a very important win and [Manny Franco] rode her beautifully. And we had some good speed competition there. We’re proud.”

The Broadway score is Hot City Girl’s fourth stakes victory. As a sophomore, she won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks and open Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel Park, and last summer took the Union Avenue Stakes at the Spa. She has six more stakes placings to her credit including a runner-up finish to Birdatthewire in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita in 2015. From a record of seven wins, three seconds and three thirds from 18 starts, Hot City Girl has compiled a $668,150 bankroll.

Bred by Eklektikos Stable LLC, and foaled at Chester and Mary Broman’s Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Hot City Girl is out of Noble Fire, a stakes-placed runner also trained by Rice, who was bred by Chester and Mary Broman.

Rice bought Noble Fire for Eklektikos for $115,000 at the 2007 OBS Spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. In addition to champion sprinter and $1.5 million-earner La Verdad (Yes It’s True) and Hot City Girl, Noble Fire is the dam of black type performer N. F.’s Destiny, who earned over $330,000 and Noble Freud, an impressive first-out winner just two days ago at Oaklawn Park.

Altogether, Noble Fire’s offspring have earned over $2.6 million and she was crowned 2015 New York broodmare of the year. Currently the mare has a yearling colt by Will Take Charge. Bred last summer to Pioneerof the Nile, she unfortunately  did not bring the foal to term.

 

 

 

 

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/02/18/hot-city-girl-broadway/

---

Candid Desire wins first stakes in Hollie Hughes

(NYRA Communications/Brian Bohl)

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Amanda Laderer and Gary Downey’s Candid Desire overtook Loki’s Vengeance in deep stretch and outkicked Celtic Chaos at the wire to win the 39th running of the $100,000 Hollie Hughes for New York-bred 4 and up on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Candid Desire, trained by Gary Sciacca, won his first stakes in his 31st career start, completing six furlongs in 1:10.19 on the inner track. It was the second consecutive victory for the 5-year-old bay colt, who improved to 4-2-1 in 12 inner dirt starts at the Big A.

Bustin It set the early fractions, going a quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds and a half-mile in 45.31. Jockey Antonio Gallardo kept Candid Desire off the pace and surged from midpack out of the turn, angling four-wide to gain the lead before winning by a neck.

“I had a really good trip,” Gallardo said. “I saw there was a lot of speed and that’s really good for me because my horse will be coming off the pace. He gave me a really good kick. He’s a really good horse and he’s better on the outside when he can be in the clear. I could feel a horse trying to go between me and the other one and it got a little bit tight [in the stretch] but it was nothing.”

Off at 5-1, Candid Desire paid $12.80 on a $2 win bet and improved his career earnings to $305,814. Sciacca won the Hollie Hughes for the first time since Appealing Guy captured the 1990 edition.

“He ran great, he had a great pace,” Sciacca said. “Antonio did a great job sitting right off it. I saw the horse open up turning for home, and he [Gallardo] said, ‘the horse did it all.’ He was ready to go.

“He seems like he’s just getting himself together right now,” he added. “The owners have been very patient with him. It’s just great to have success for them.”

Celtic Chaos, for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, was the runner-up for his best stakes finish. Drama King came in third.

West Hills Giant, Loki’s Vengeance, Bust Another, Bustin It and Bond Vigilante, the favorite, completed the order of finish. Full of Mine was scratched.

Save

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/02/12/candid-desire-hollie-hughes/

---

Send It In captures thrilling edition of Haynesfield

(NYRA Communications/Brian Bohl)

Paul Pompa, Jr.’s Send It In picked up his eighth career win with a nail-biting victory in the $100,000 Haynesfield for New York-breds going 1 1/16 miles.

Sent off as the 1-9 favorite, the 5-year-old Curlin homebred settled in the three-path early behind Iron Power and the pacesetting Fox Rules, who took the field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.74 and the half in 48.84.

Send It In, under a drive from jockey Manny Franco, put away Iron Power as the field reached the top of the stretch and caught up with the leader near the sixteenth pole. An obstinate Fox Rules dug in and the pair locked up down the lane. The pacesetter could not hold off the heavily favored Send It In, who ultimately prevailed, getting his nose down on the wire for the win.

The winner, trained by Todd Pletcher, completed the route in 1:43.83 and returned $2.30 for a $2 win wager. The victory was the eighth from 15 career starts for Send It In, including his 3 ¾-length score in the Alex M. Robb on December 31 last time out. Saturday’s win boosted his career earnings to $398,414.

Repent Twice closed for third, followed by Iron Power and Eden Ridge to round out the order of finish.

Save

Save

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/02/11/send-it-in-haynesfield/

---